PRINTER'S NO. 1957
No. 223 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY MOWERY, BELL, BRIGHTBILL, CORMAN, COSTA, DENT,
EARLL, ERICKSON, HOLL, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KUKOVICH, LOGAN,
MELLOW, MUSTO, MURPHY, O'PAKE, ORIE, SCHWARTZ, STOUT,
THOMPSON, TOMLINSON, WAGNER, WENGER, D. WHITE, M. WHITE,
C. WILLIAMS, KITCHEN, PUNT, BODACK, ROBBINS AND GREENLEAF,
APRIL 29, 2002
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 29, 2002
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the month of May 2002 as "Mental Health Month" in
2 Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Mental health is essential to everyone's overall
4 health and well-being; and
5 WHEREAS, One in five American adults and children is affected
6 by a mental illness; and
7 WHEREAS, Mental health problems do not discriminate: they
8 know no race, creed, age limit or economic status; and
9 WHEREAS, People with mental illness can recover and lead
10 full, productive lives; and
11 WHEREAS, An estimated two-thirds of adults and young people
12 with mental health problems are not getting the help they need;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, Untreated or undertreated mental illness costs
15 public and private employers billions of dollars annually
16 through absenteeism, turnover, low productivity and increased
1 medical costs; and
2 WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has made a
3 commitment to community-based systems of mental health care in
4 which all residents can receive high-quality and consumer-
5 responsive services; and
6 WHEREAS, The National Mental Health Association, the National
7 Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare and their national
8 partners observe "Mental Health Month" every May to raise
9 awareness and understanding of mental health and illness;
10 therefore be it
11 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of May 2002 as
12 "Mental Health Month" in Pennsylvania, and call upon all
13 citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions,
14 businesses and schools to recommit to increasing awareness and
15 understanding of mental illness and the need for appropriate and
16 accessible services for all people with mental illness.
D23L82MRD/20020S0223R1957 - 2 -